Assembly Bill 1066 will roll out new rules for overtime in
2019, lowering the current 10 hour-day threshold for overtime by half an hour
each year until it reaches the standard eight-hour day by 2022.It will also phase in a 40 hour standard
workweek for the first time.This was
opposed by the California Cut Flower Commission, the California Farm Bureau
Federation, and others, who contend that increases to the minimum wage would be
devastating to companies and communities.

“We are extremely disappointed that this legislation was
signed into law, as it will be harmful to farm employees, farmers, and the
environment.Those who work on
California farmers will see reduced paychecks and have their lives disrupted as
these new worker overtime rules come into play,” said Paul Wenger, president of
the California Farm Bureau Federation.“California
consumers will have fewer opportunities to buy California-grown farm products
that are produced in the most stringent food safety, employment and environmental
rules in the world.”

After the California Senate passed the bill in August, Ben
Dobbe, COO and senior sales executive of Holland America Flowers in Niporno,
California, said the bill could ultimately said the bill could ultimately hurt
employees “big time.”

Dobbe explained that “If the bill passes, employees will not
be allowed to work more than 55 hours per week in 2017, not more than 50 hours
per week in 2018, 45 hours in 2019, and 40 in 2020.”“We cannot afford to pay any overtime, so we
cannot allow any of our employees to work any overtime hours.”

Compiled with the effects of the minimum wage
increase, he added, “the bottom line for our employees, and likely for
employees in most other farms, is that they will lose working hours gradually
over the next 4 years to a 40-hour work
week in 2020.